Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Minister of Trade and Industry, on Tuesday called on entrepreneurs and businesses to help increase the volume of Ghana's export trade, saying that it was one major route for the country's development.
He said last year non-traditional exports amounted to just 300 million dollars. This compares with 112 million dollars in 2000 and 249 dollars in 1999.
Dr Apraku was speaking at a day's seminar on maintaining hygiene and standards in processed foods meant for export. It was organised by the Export Promotion Council and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Accra.
The Minister urged businesses to come up with export-oriented products and access new markets by adding value to local products and produce.
He said Japan imports pineapples from the US and Thailand when Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire and other African countries had better resources to do such exports.
He touched on the importance of hygienic standards in the food processing industry and said there was a lot do on sanitation if such foods were to meet international standards.
Mr Takashi Suzuki, Trade Commissioner of JETRO, said Ghana had a lot to offer Japan if she added more value to her exports.
He said currently, Ghana's raw cocoa exports had about 63 per cent of the Japanese market followed by Venzuela with 11.6 and Ecaudor with a little over 10 per cent.
Mr Suzuki said the purpose of the seminar was to promote export and investments in the country and called for higher hygienic standards in the food processing industry.
Mr Kwaku Adu Mensah, General Manager of the Council, noted that agriculture employed over 60 per cent of Ghana's population and said much needed done to meet international standards in the agric sector and food processing industry in general.
